Signal. I love it but can't always get people to use it
this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2023
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Asklemmy
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Ugh. Signal for me, as well. I love it, it was amazing, I was getting decent adoption across my friends and family... And then they removed SMS support and all that momentum got lost. It was the one thing I could leverage to get folks on board, and now it's gone. Myself, one friend, and my father still use it despite the change. But I can't get anyone to even look at it anymore.
I just wish Signal had better history and backup features.
Yea Telegram is better for some stuff like that
Signal.
A few years ago, I didn't really care about privacy and even worshipped Google and such. Now that I do care about them, I rejoined Signal (which I disliked a few years ago). I am currently waiting for the EU's DMA law to take effect (specifically the messaging app interoperability) so I can delete WhatsApp and my account for good and only use Signal to communicate with others, no matter if they're using WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. Feels good to be in the EU atm. You know how stuff is in the EU, literally everyone is using WhatsApp so you have no choice but to use WhatsApp as well. I tried to get my family and friends into Signal now, but it seems like they are like the people that say "I have nothing to hide, and I don't trust such sketchy apps.". Feels annoying but I no longer need to thanks to EU's DMA law.
The DMA won't do much for you, Signal already announced last year that they wouldn't open up for interoperability, specifically not with WhatsApp.
Wait really? Can I have the source?
I can't find the original wording from them, just the german article from netzpolitik. I don't remember if it was just a press release or a public announcement.
The important part roughly translated:
Signal's goal is to provide private and secure communication for all. Collaborating with iMessage and WhatsApp would ultimately degrade the privacy of Signal and its users. Other apps that do not have the same privacy standards as Signal would have access to large amounts of user data. This data could then be used or sold in ways that are not consistent with Signal's mission and values.
I mean, it makes sense. People move to Signal specifically to avoid their data going to Meta, so what would be the point in using it to talk to WhatsApp?
That makes sense with their reasoning. But the DMA will still free people from WhatsApp regardless. There will be some open source messaging app implementing the new MLS protocol to communicate with WhatsApp users. I am more than happy to use that alongside Signal instead of WhatsApp.
How much will using a FOSS app for WhatsApp even accomplish? They still get all of your info, but at least the app isn't packed with trackers, I guess.
I just fear that switching from WhatsApp will lose importance to people who are on the fence about it, because why switch apps for that one friend who can now communicate with you anyway?
It's the same as with email. If I communicate with someone using Gmail, then yes, of course Google also gets some my data. But it's still better than being forced to use Gmail because my friend is on Gmail right?
I don't have to use whatsapp but i do have to use viber and snapchat
Back in the days before smartphones, when people were still messaging from their PCs like dirty cavemen, I've gone trough a lot of messenging apps, but this Jabber client called AQQ was my favourite. Community created plugin-ins with extra functionalities and skins that could completely change its look, so the below are examples:
(one of the first apps I remember that embraced the dark themes, though there were all kinds of them, including light and pink...)
It supported multiple networks simultaneously, something that doesn't happen nowadays.
Like all of those apps, in the end, it lost to Facebook messages.
EDIT: only now I noticed the second part of the question - "... and rejoined". Sorry, I'm stoned. In this comment branch we name the ones we're just sorry they're gone แ( แ )แ
Haaaa! I haven't heard about Jabber in waaay too long. Thanks for the memories.
Ah, multiple networks. I remember using Miranda IM to connect to ICQ, MSN, Yahoo Chat, AIM, Jabber, and Google Chat (when they used XMPP).
I have a love hate relationship with Telegram. I want to like it, but I don't, so I install it every once in a while, but then delete it again.
For me it's the other way around. I don't like Telegram, but it has great UX and some important communities.
I don't really get messaging apps. I have discord on my phone but I disabled notifications because my phone buzzes any time someone posts anything in any community I'm a part of and it was getting really annoying. I also don't use it for messaging, I just use it for the voice lobbies.
Other than that, I text exclusively.
You can adjust it in settings so it only sends you notifications when someone DMs you or specifically mentions you in can.
I don't let anything give notifications that aren't SMS or phone.
I even turned SMS notifications off for a while.
My phone has been on silent for like 7 years.
My wife hates this. Notifications are the devil. I don't need them or want them. I will check in when I damn well feel like it. If I don't, I'm probably busy.
SMS? People really uses those!?
Like 100% of US/Canada does, yes.
Maybe you meant USA, Mexico is part of North America and WhatsApp reigns here, sadly.
Edited! I did mean America. Google seems to indicate that Mexico does use SMS as the primary function of a cell phone for about 30% of cell phones, but that WhatsApp is the most popular messaging service. Canadians use SMS.
I had my phone set to silent for a few years, it was quite tranquil
I'm sure there is but I never bothered, just disabled the notifications in my android settings. People who know me know that if they wanna contact me they can call or text so it's never really been an issue.
You let people CALL you!? The horror.
Snapchat.
I hate when the only way to get in touch with people is to use a shitty app like it.
Same with me.
Snapchat is so bloated. But the ability to just take easily take a video and send it is awesome. It's really a convience factor. My most used group chat is on signal, but we still use snapchat for videos with eachother
i use snapchat to bypass discord
Facebook Messenger Lite. My mom just won't use anything else.
Every single one I ever used. I even disabled iMessage once because I was annoyed it wasnโt syncing properly between the phone and the computer.